Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus battery recycling in Ulsan, South Korea
Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus takes whole Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus packs straight from fleets, dealers and workshops. Packs are weighed, de-energised and logged here before modules move on for grading or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
11,209 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
34,000 TPA
Integrated Recovery Campus
Cities served
2
From Ulsan, South Korea
Where a Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus pack goes from Ulsan, South Korea
- 1
Intake at Ulsan, South Korea
Packs travel as individual heavy crates on flatbed or curtain-side trailers with load restraint rated for the mass. Each pack is weighed, photographed and discharged below 30% state of charge.
- 2
Graded at Yokohama, Kanagawa
Modules travel 935 km to Yokohama — Kanagawa Diagnostics Works for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 24 modules.
- 3
Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden
At 80% SOH about 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus (8,121 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Ningde, Fujian
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Ningde — Fujian Refining Base, 1,354 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Yokohama — Kanagawa Diagnostics Works | 935 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 8,121 km |
| Nearest refinery | Ningde — Fujian Refining Base | 1,354 km |
Inside the Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus battery
The Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus (2022) carries a 350 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 24 modules at 640 V, weighing roughly 2590 kg. Cobalt-free prismatic chemistry dominant in Indian passenger EVs and commercial fleets. Low black mass value, exceptional second-life economics.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 96.4% | A — BESS ready | USD 18,397 |
| Year 4 | 93.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 17,818 |
| Year 6 | 90.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 17,239 |
| Year 8 | 87.1% | A — BESS ready | USD 16,660 |
| Year 10 | 84% | B — Second life | USD 14,356 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
LFP fades slowly and fairly linearly for most of its life. Capacity loss is driven mainly by lithium inventory being locked up in the SEI layer on the graphite anode, while the cathode structure stays largely intact.
Thermal behaviour
LFP's olivine cathode holds its oxygen tightly, so thermal runaway typically starts at higher temperatures than nickel-rich cells and releases noticeably less heat. It is not inert: a failing LFP cell still vents flammable electrolyte vapour and hydrogen, and large prismatic cans store a lot of energy in one place.
Handling LFP Prismatic
Collecting a Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus pack
350 kWh, 24 modules, about 2590 kg — this is how the Ulsan, South Korea team plans the job.
Removal
Roof- or floor-mounted packs are lifted by crane or gantry with the OEM lifting frame, one string at a time.
Packaging
Packs travel as individual heavy crates on flatbed or curtain-side trailers with load restraint rated for the mass.
Consolidation
Bus packs are collected per depot and per retirement window, usually a full trailer per visit.
Before the truck arrives
- Confirm crane or gantry access and lifting frame availability
- Isolate each pack string and record its voltage
- Share pack-string serials against the bus fleet number
- Plan collection around depot operating hours
Ulsan, South Korea site notes
- Manufacturers can arrange recurring scrap collections.
- Declare chemistry and format at booking.
- Large packs need advance notice.
- Damaged units require special handling.
What this pack yields
lithium
25.96 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
78.51 kg
aluminium
93.7 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in South Korea
Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles
Regulator: Ministry of Environment, with Korea Environment Corporation
The campus operates under Korean environmental permitting and national rules on waste and resource recycling, including producer responsibility schemes. Transport follows Korean dangerous goods regulations.
Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus in Ulsan, South Korea: common questions
Can I drop off a Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus battery at Ulsan, South Korea?
Yes, by appointment. Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus accepts whole Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus modules after Ulsan, South Korea?
Intake at Ulsan, South Korea, then Graded at Yokohama, Kanagawa, then Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden, then Refined at Ningde, Fujian. At 80% SOH roughly 56% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus pack be prepared for pickup?
Confirm crane or gantry access and lifting frame availability. Isolate each pack string and record its voltage. Share pack-string serials against the bus fleet number. Plan collection around depot operating hours.
Which rules apply to Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus recycling in South Korea?
Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles, overseen by Ministry of Environment, with Korea Environment Corporation. Transport follows national dangerous goods rules, with lithium-ion batteries packaged under UN 3480 / UN 3481.
Cities collected by Ulsan, South Korea
Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus at other sites
Other bus packs at Ulsan, South Korea
Retiring Switch Mobility EiV 12 City Bus packs near Ulsan, South Korea?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.